Articles I recommend, if you missed them earlier….
Dr. Anthony Fauci provides an update. Fauci at odds with Trump: Downplaying virus threat ‘not a good thing,’ no ‘normal’ until at least mid-2021 9/11/20 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fauci-odds-trump-downplaying-threat-good-thing-normal/story?id=72952834&cid=social_fb_abcnp&fbclid=IwAR1zm3e7knE6c99Unsc2AyjXXznGESA3m-IOVMhsJ86iGVXigFoKgVG-nEc
Guidance from recognized experts on testing, treatments, vaccines, herd immunity, fall/winter plans and more–definitely worth a close read. What the Fall and Winter of the Pandemic Will Look Like 9/18/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/opinion/coronavirus-fall-winter.html
More good and practical advice is in this article. Stop Expecting Life to Go Back to Normal Next Year 9/15/20https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/opinion/coronavirus-precautions.html
But, THIS is the article everyone needs to read, then read again, forward, and talk about. Tomás Pueyo wrote the most important analysis of the coronavirus last spring, The Hammer and the Dance. Now, he shows how America can manage COVID-19 as it inevitably ebbs and flows all over the country, using “fences”—not actual fences, of course, but policies put in place and enforced to keep out infections. To Beat the Coronavirus, Build a Better Fence. From the article: No country has been able to control the virus without a fence. Fences are not enough to stop the virus on their own, but they’re a necessary part of the solution. European countries and U.S. states had hoped otherwise. They were deluded. They opened their arms to their neighbors too soon and got infected in the hug. They need to realize that not every country or state is effectively fighting the virus. Why should their citizens sacrifice so much for so long, with lockdowns and business closures, only to waste their efforts when their neighbors visit? And as long as states fail to control their borders, the coronavirus will come back. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/14/opinion/politics/coronavirus-close-borders-travel-quarantine.html
As always, my Covid-19 page has links to articles added daily, on all aspects of the pandemic.
In the US
We suffered yet another loss, in a year that has specialized in sneak attacks, relentless blows, vicious mayhem, and more death than we can contemplate. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of cancer on Sept. 18. Every American woman owes her a debt, for not only paving our way with her own achievements but for flying into the fray and removing obstacles for us all. Notorious RBG, indeed.
This NY Times podcast captures her essence (transcript also available if you prefer to read.) Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and the Battle for Her Seat https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/21/podcasts/the-daily/ruth-bader-ginsburg-supreme-court.html?rref=vanity
Here is a good article from 2016, in her own words. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Advice for Living https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/opinion/sunday/ruth-bader-ginsburgs-advice-for-living.html
I’ll never forget this image, of hundreds of her former law clerks lining up on the Supreme Court steps to greet her casket. Then, in pairs, they took shifts standing vigil at her side during 2 days of public viewing.
Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images
This video shows the Supreme Court ceremony and vigil, including the clerks’ tribute, the eulogy, official statements, and comments from people who came from across the nation to say goodbye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e692Lx08RU
This video shows the U.S. Capitol Memorial Service for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqxHqVVhz4M
Panning out from one searing loss to over 200,000 Americans dead from COVID-19, this article pays tribute. With Flags, Crosses and Photos, Mourning 200,000 Dead https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/us/covid-deaths.html
In Texas
An Austin artist observes the death of each Texan from coronavirus (15,500 as of now). ‘These Are Real People Dying’: Why an Artist Filled His Yard With Flags https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/insider/front-page-200k-deaths.html
Official COVID reporting in Texas took several serious hits recently. The result was detailed in a NY Times piece, concluding this: “Inconsistencies and problems with Covid-19 data collection in Texas have clouded the picture of the pandemic’s trajectory in the state, to the point that some residents and officials say they cannot rely on the numbers to tell them what is really going on.” Conflicting Virus Data in Texas Raises Distrust of the Government 9/13/20 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/13/us/texas-virus-data.html
Then, the state decided to make sweeping changes, so that it now reports 3 DIFFERENT positivity rates (percentage of tests showing infection). Texas officials change how the state reports positivity rate after testing backlogs skewed coronavirus data 9/14/20 https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/14/texas-coronavirus-positivity-rate/
Soon after, Gov. Abbott declared the positivity rate would no longer be relied on as far as when to re-open. Instead, he will look at hospitalizations, specifically the percentage of COVID hospitalizations compared to all hospitalizations. If COVID hospitalizations are over 15% for 7 days, then additional restrictions may be needed. Texas re-openings tied more to COVID-19 severity than to spread 9/18/20 https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/18/texas-reopening-coronavirus/
And, Gov. Abbott then continued re-opening Texas, allowing elective surgeries again and permitting restaurants, retail, office, etc. to open up to 75% capacity (from 50% previously). Of course, Texas continues to perform less and less tests, just like the White House prefers.
In Lakeway
The Sept. 21 Council meeting was held IN PERSON at City Hall, after online meetings since February and with only 3 days notice. The somewhat good news is that Council agreed to a nominal increase of the property tax rate. They will adopt what used to be called the effective rate but is now known as the no new revenue rate (being 16.53 cents per $100 of property valuation, compared to the current rate of 16.45 cents per $100); this rate will bring in the same amount of funds to the city for next year as it got this year, excluding new properties. Previously, Mayor Cox and Council threatened to assess a 3.5% tax increase, then a 2% increase. Now, there will technically be a 0% increase, but due to how this is calculated some properties will be charged more. The frilly new expenditures they wanted (4 new staff positions and various new vehicles) are still in the budget. But, it turns out that sales tax revenue to date was higher than projected, plus staff was suddenly able to trim planned expenditures here and there. It is a shame that Mayor Cox and our Council members even considered raising taxes during a pandemic and ended up with this mediocre result, but at least they recognized the folly of doing anything more extreme after many, many residents objected. And how nice that a path allowing them to have their cake and eat it too appeared out of nowhere….
Unfortunately, our deer remain at risk, with this year’s count still (as far as has been disclosed) set for October instead of the usual December and with roughly $40,000 in the 2021 budget available to partially fund culling the herd.
Going by an Executive Session description for the Sept. 21 meeting, it seems Lakeway is suing a former city attorney for bad legal advice. However, no public action was taken at the meeting, and no details were released. Could it be over the city’s long but losing campaign to pay Mayor Cox’s personal legal fees? Or, possibly related to the city’s election reform that violated the Texas Constitution? Or, it is regarding the Cherry Knoll fiasco? Or, pretty much anything involving Legends? Considering the city’s many legal misadventures in recent years, the possibilities are endless….
There IS a rumor going around that City of Lakeway is trying to annex the Crosswinds/Hornsby area just outside current bounds and abutting Rough Hollow. And, it sounds like many of those homeowners are fighting mad about the power play. With decades of abuse from that development, on their properties and on their Lake Travis frontage, it seems to me those folks have suffered enough.
Council will FINALLY adopt the 2021 budget and set the property tax rate (see details above) at the special Sept. 28 Council meeting. The Agenda has MUCH MORE on tap, as well. This includes moving ZAPCO monthly meetings from Tuesdays to Mondays and awarding a $163,558 annual landscape contract (for work at “various locations”). Far more interesting is a review of the Planned Unit Development for The Oakes (HEB and the rest); this could be juicy, or it could be another whitewash. Also, the city is adopting a Thoroughfare Plan, despite still having way too few actual thoroughfares. Finally, an Executive Session item reveals a complaint against the police department, with no details given.
Unfortunately, the Meeting Packet for the meeting has nothing helpful on most of the agenda items (the budget being the exception). This means that Citizen Participation, while offered, is largely moot on most items; it is hard to submit a written comment BEFORE the meeting, as required, when no info is supplied past a headline-style Agenda.
For whatever reason, this meeting is back to ONLINE only. Go here to see the Agenda and Meeting Packet for Sept. 28– https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
If you want to make a public comment, you must arrange it BEFORE the meeting. To send written comments to Council and/or request to speak at the meeting, go here and create a Public Comment Form—https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx
Go here to watch Council meetings online, live or after the fact—https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Finally, Lakeway had a rash of stolen vehicles last week. The city notice mentioned that most cases involved unlocked cars, many with the keys left in the vehicles. Seriously? Lock your vehicles, remove valuables, and secure your keys. Better yet—clear the junk out of your garage and park your car in there, for maximum security and minimum neighborhood clutter.
Back to me….
I ventured out to The Galleria for an eye exam and then shopped for a much-needed pair of new glasses. Even THIS is a different experience due to COVID, but Lenscrafters is doing a great job keeping everything clean and safe. Again, I heartily recommend doing this type thing on a Tuesday morning—I was the only customer.
Also, I gave in to my doctor’s plea and finally got the shingles vaccine. (Well, the new Shingrix vaccine requires 2 shots, so I’ll get the second round in 2-6 months.) I also got a tetanus booster that was over-due. Since I’m not even close to reaching the deductible on my health insurance, I called around and found that HEB Pharmacy charges significantly less for both vaccines than other area options. The pharmacist warned my arms would be sore, and he was not kidding!
The rain was welcome, but it did cancel a few morning walks. However, the deer posed nicely when I did get out, and here are some of my favorite shots.
The National Zoo’s panda cub suddenly LOOKS like a panda—covered in black and white fur, and very chubby. Check out this adorable video as Cubbie squeaks and grunts its way through a quick medical exam (including a DNA swab to ascertain gender)–The Baby Panda Is One Month Old https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/09/21/the-baby-panda-is-one-month-old/?fbclid=IwAR1qVXh8cV_XMnW4PMKb_80l4TyOuN9dc3vd3L4G2F0NYDDq9UCymh-g0IQ
Perspective is key…..
Worldwide, the total number of COVID-19 deaths passed the 1 million mark today. What a sea of suffering from something that did not even exist a year ago….
In the US, we hit the 7 million case mark on Sept. 20, just 3 weeks after reaching 6 million cases. Steady for awhile at a high plateau, the number of new infections is now edging upward, with totals as high as 53,000 new cases per day recently. Worst of all, 200,000 Americans were dead from COVID-19 as of Sept. 15. This was less than 4 months since May 26, when what seemed an impossible 100,000 people had died.
In Texas, the daily death counts remain high. New cases are rising despite inadequate testing, and hospitalizations are creeping upward. Again.